Recruitment and Training of Professionals to Work With Adults with Specific Learning Disabilities So That They Might Become Employable or Promotable: Final Report.

Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD. Evening Coll.

During the academic year 1975-1976, a program for near-illiterate adults was designed and carried out at The Johns Hopkins University, Evening College and Summer Session. The goal was to help persons with severe reading problems obtain necessary skills to enter the world of work or move up in the world. Counseling, both group and individual, was provided to help in adjustment difficulties. The original program of 14 weeks was supplemented by a 6-week program. Professionals were recruited and trained to provide the remediation services on a multi-disciplinary basis. Clients who did not have jobs prior to the program obtained jobs; some were upgraded. The largest number of dropouts were referrals from Manpower. In the followup study, all who completed the program claim to be helped; some in the job search, but all claim to have been helped in reading. This publication describes in detail the recruitment and training of the professionals involved; the interviewing of the adult clients; the instructional program; and a followup study. Also included are a description of the extension program which followed the original period of instruction, and a list of recommendations for future programs. (Author/BP)